L. M. Gillespie

L. M. Gillespie was one of the first women police officers to be employed by the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1][2][3]

L.M. Gillespie
L.M. Gillespie, c. 1913
Known forOne of the first women police officers employed by the city of Philadelphia
Police career
DepartmentPhiladelphia Police Department
Service yearsEarly 1900s
StatusDeceased
Other workTravelers' Aid Society agent; assisted police with human trafficking cases

She had previously partnered with Mary D. Diehl to rescue more than two thousand women and girls who had become victims of human trafficking.[4][5][6]

Biography

Prior to her recruitment by the city of Philadelphia, Gillespie and Mary Diehl had been working as agents of the Travelers' Aid Society, attempting to provide help to travelers in trouble. Multiple newspapers across the United States reported on their work, including the Oakland Tribune, which noted that the need to hire women police officers had "been felt for some time among the officials of Philadelphia, the work of the white slavers demanding some means of protection" for women and girls, and adding:[7][8][9]

"For years they were members of one of the city's leading aid societies, and in the course of their experience have helped over two thousand girls and women find happiness in good homes."

Once employed by the Philadelphia Police Department, which had previously only hired women as police officers for department stores up until that time, Gillespie and Diehl were given even more authority, and were empowered to detain and arrest suspected criminals,[10] marking the first time that women were assigned to what was considered to be more dangerous duty—patrolling inside of the two main railroad transit hubs, the Reading Terminal and Broad Street Station.[11][12][13]

The two new policewomen were also given full authority to work throughout the city if needed, wore the same style of blue uniforms as male members of the Philadelphia police force, and were each provided with a revolver, black-jack, nippers (a form of single-wrist handcuff), and badge, all identical to the equipment provided to other members of the force.[14][15][16]

Gillespie and Diehl reportedly worked "'split shifts' on their beats," and were "supposed to be 'on reserve' at their homes during the night."[17]

Women police officers did not officially start patrolling the streets of Philadelphia until 1976.[18]

See also
  • Diehl and Gillespie wearing their police badges, 1913
    Diehl and Gillespie wearing their police badges, 1913

References
  1. "Philadelphia Has Two Policewomen. They are Mrs. Diehl and Miss L. M. Gillespie". Oswego Daily Times. May 2, 1913.
  2. "Has Two Women Officers: Philadelphia Force Is Strengthened by Accession of Special Policewomen." Boston, Massachusetts: Boston Evening Transcript, April 17, 1913, p. 16 (subscription required).
  3. "Women Doing Good Work: On Police Duty With Masher Hunting Her Specialty." Grand Island, Nebraska: The Grand Island Daily Independent, May 2, 1913, p. 2 (subscription required).
  4. "Mrs. Mary Diehl." Oakland, Califéornia: Oakland Tribune, June 22, 1913, p. 30 (subscription required).
  5. "Lady Copper On Job Now in Philadelphia: She Appears In The Regulation Blue Uniform Used By All The Policemen." Fort Wayne, Indiana: The Fort Wayne Daily News, May 2, 1913, p. 8 (subscription required).
  6. "These Women Are On The Police Force." Des Moines, Iowa: The Des Moines Evening Tribune, June 10, 1913, p. 7 (subscription required).
  7. "Mrs. Mary Diehl," Oakland Tribune, June 22, 1913.
  8. "Lady Copper On Job Now in Philadelphia: She Appears In The Regulation Blue Uniform Used By All The Policemen," The Fort Wayne Daily News, May 2, 1913.
  9. "These Women Are On The Police Force," The Des Moines Evening Tribune, June 10, 1913.
  10. "Mrs. Mary D. Diehl, New Policewoman of Philadelphia." Fall River, Massachusetts: Fall River Daily Globe, April 22, 1913, p. 1 (subscription required).
  11. "Women Policemen Added to Philadelphia's Force." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Post, April 18, 1913 p. 1 (subscription required).
  12. "Philadelphia Has Two Policewomen." Binghamton, New York: Binghamton Press and Leader, April 17, 1913, p. 1 (subscription required).
  13. "Lady Copper On Job Now in Philadelphia: She Appears In The Regulation Blue Uniform Used By All The Policemen," The Fort Wayne Daily News, May 2, 1913.
  14. American Police Equipment: a guide to early restraints, clubs and lanterns, By Matthew G. Forte (2000), p. 113.
  15. "Women Doing Good Work: On Police Duty With Masher Hunting Her Specialty," The Grand Island Daily Independent, May 2, 1913.
  16. "Lady Copper On Job Now in Philadelphia: She Appears In The Regulation Blue Uniform Used By All The Policemen," The Fort Wayne Daily News, May 2, 1913.
  17. "Large Woman in Blue Uniform Attracts Attention." Arkansas City, Kansas: The Arkansas City Daily News, May 2, 1913, p. 3 (subscription required).
  18. "56 Women Officers Are First To Patrol Philadelphia Streets". United Press International in the New York Times. September 28, 1976. Retrieved 2009-08-04. Women police officers are patrolling the streets of Philadelphia for the first time.
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